May 4, 2019
St. Peter’s Adopts Visitor Restrictions to Prevent Spread of Norovirus
***Note: the visitor restrictions continue to be in place as of Monday, May 6. We will revisit the need for restrictions every morning at 10:00am. ***
As of 11:45a.m. on Friday, May 3, St. Peter’s Health is adopting visitor restrictions due to a significant increase of norovirus in the community and at the Regional Medical Center. The restrictions are in place to help protect patients and prevent the spread of the virus. The visitor restrictions will be in place until 8:00a.m., Monday, May 6. Depending on the prevalence of norovirus the restrictions will be reevaluated at that time.
Community members exhibiting the following symptoms will not be allowed at the Regional Medical Center unless seeking care:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Stomach Pain
- Fever
- Body Aches
All visitors will be restricted from visiting patients on the medical floor at the Regional Medical Center (unless they are visiting a patient in end-of-life care).
Norovirus is very contagious and can be spread easily through direct contact with an infected person, consumption of contaminated food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces and then putting unwashed hands in your mouth. “We are implementing visitor restrictions to keep our patients and community safe,” said St. Peter’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shelly Harkins. “We advise everyone with norovirus symptoms to stay home and hydrate as much as possible. If you have norovirus and are exhibiting signs of dehydration it is important to seek care.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can protect yourself from norovirus by washing your hands often and avoid preparing food for others when sick and for two days after the symptoms stop.
More information about norovirus is available online at www.cdc.gov/norovirus.
You can express well wishes to patients by phone or card instead of making personal visits, or through email via this website address: https://www.sphealth.org/MessageAPatient.